In Mo., Republican Medicaid plan gains backers: A Republican alternative to expanding Medicaid in Missouri, introduced in the House, is getting support from some backers of expansion. Under the alternative, fewer adults would be covered than the Affordable Care Act calls for and some children would be excluded. Supporters of the plan include representatives of hospitals and business groups. Springfield News-Leader (Mo.) (tiered subscription model)/The Associated Press
(3/25)

Some states decline to enforce ACA insurer rulesFlorida, Missouri, Oklahoma and Wyoming are among the states that will not enforce Affordable Care Act regulations regarding insurers, such as requiring insurers to accept all applicants and forbidding them from charging more based on gender. HHS has few state resources and little experience enforcing health insurance rules, experts say. Kaiser Health News/Capsules blog
(3/19)

Report looks at barriers that prevent full use of NPsState scope of practice laws combined with unfair reimbursement policies prevent nurse practitioners from practicing to the full extent of their training and education, according to a report from the National Institute for Health Care Reform. The report examined six states, including Indiana and Michigan, to assess the effect of restrictions on nurse practitioners. Healthcare Finance News
(3/21)

Study scores U.S. nursing homes for efficiency, qualityNursing homes in the U.S. scored an average of 0.869 out of 1.0 for efficiency, according to a Central Michigan University and Virginia Commonwealth University analysis of information on 1,430 facilities. The study in Healthcare Management Review found efficient nursing homes did better or as well on quality measures, compared with inefficient homes, in every category besides bladder incontinence. McKnight's Long-Term Care News
(3/25)

Insurers spent less than 1% of premiums on QI, report saysHealth plans spent $2.3 billion, or less than 1% of premiums, on quality improvement initiatives in 2011, with 51% of that going toward improving health outcomes and 9% toward preventing readmissions, a Commonwealth Fund study found. The Affordable Care Act requires plans to spend money on quality improvements. Study co-author Michael McCue of Virginia Commonwealth University said the majority of premiums are spent on care expenses, which also help promote quality. HealthLeaders Media
(3/22)

MONA News

Barrier-free care for MissouriMany of the elements and recommendations of the Institute of Medicine Report on the Future of Nursing are reflected in our ongoing work to advance the nursing profession. Implementation of IOM Recommendation 1: Remove scope-of-practice barriers is a current focus for MONA. Learn more.